Brendan Rodgers' sacking from Reading FC won't play on McAnuff's mind

Reading FC's Jobi McAnuff is looking forward to facing Swansea City on Boxing Day

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Jobi McAnuff insists there is no time for sentimentality as Royals prepare for the visit of Swansea City today.

McAnuff was brought to Reading by former boss Brendan Rodgers in August and the pair had previously worked together at Watford.

But the 28-year-old winger admits that despite having a good friendship with Rodgers, his mind is solely focused on getting three points against the Welsh side.

He said: “Football goes on at the end of the day. It is a cruel and cut-throat business we are in. We have to move on and we will do that with a result against Swansea and then with a few more points over the holiday period.

“I had a great relationship with him (Rodgers) – both professional and personal. We got on from day one and he was the person that brought me to this club. A lot of people don’t look past football at this busy time of year and there is no room for sentiment.

“We have to get our heads down and not think about the decisions. Everyone here has confidence in Brian (McDermott). There has been a good atmosphere at the club over the last week, but it had been that way for as long as Brendan was here as well.”

McAnuff has fast become a fans’ favourite after joining the club, but he insists there is one area of his game that he is not pleased with.

He said: “I wanted to make a positive impact at the club from my first game and I have managed to sustain that. I am pleased with the way I have been playing and hopefully I can carry that on until next year.

“I am enjoying playing for the club and however well we play we always want to do better.

“This has been the most consistent form of my career. I have managed to keep it going from when Brendan took over at Watford around this time last year. Now I want to kick on even more and score more goals.

“I am happy that I’m contributing in other areas of the pitch, but I want to score more. I am really not pleased with the amount I have scored in the last two or three years.”

The winger admits the Christmas period is just another part of the season for footballers, but this year he will finally get to spend it at home.

“It’s important not to get drawn into the celebrations,” he said.

“This year I will get to spend Christmas evening at home with my family which will make a nice change. For the last four years I have either been travelling or at a hotel. I will enjoy the day, but then it is back to work on Boxing Day."